Salamon, Russel (levy, d.a.)

Original Photograph of d.a. levy

Cleveland, OH: M.J. Roach, 1967. Original Photograph. Single Sheet. Offered here is a wildly rare, original photographic print featuring d.a.levy (1942-1968) — the celebrated American poet-printer-publisher affiliated with the Mimeograph Revolution in Cleveland, OH. The only other copy of this photograph known to exist (at least according to the book, d.a.levy & the mimeograph revolution, published by Bottom Dog Press in 2007) is in the Cleveland State University archives. In that book, the photograph as reproduced is credited to one “M.J. Roach,” which is quite obviously a hilarious pseudonym. Keep reading, and you'll find out who We at TMB think it was. Another thing we know is that the version of this photograph which exists, online is cropped & does not feature a border (like that which surrounds this one). Perhaps the version of that image available, online is cropped, and the one at CSU (that it’s taken from) also features the border seen here. This doesn’t seem to be the case, however, as the CSU levy materials are accessible online & open to the public. See for yourself, at the following link — (https://tinyurl.com/4jytyvh7) — & note the following things. [1] The copy at CSU is cropped, whereas the one offered by TMB is entirely intact. [2] The copy at CSU came from the collection of Cleveland poet (& early levy associate), Russell Salamon (b. 1941); clearing up the confusion as to who “M.J. Roach” is. [3] The copy at CSU looks more like a print [on thicker, almost card stock-like paper] than it does an original photograph, a confusion totally foreign to this lot, here. To really get the “final word” on this matter, one would have to travel to CSU themselves & view CSU’s copy in person. Ideally, you’d do this with TMB’s never-before-seen copy of the photograph in hand. The next step [scholastically] will have whoever buys this photograph brushing up on their knowledge of original photographic prints, and the means to small-batch reproduction commercially available at that time. We can tell you, as scholars of the Mimeograph Revolution, that levy bought his paper at Hollo Printing in Cleveland; but we can’t tell you where Russell Salamon got his photos developed; or if he kept the copy that he made for himself (now owned by CSU); & gave this one to d.a., or someone close to him. Before closing, we’d like to address our practicing fellow scholars, directly. This is an investment at the end of which dangles a breakthrough. We would be delighted to hear that a Third Minder — one among our vast community of scholar-collectors; authors who visit our site and write on what they find here — rose from the lot to become its Turing. Either way, it’s a legacy collectible: and will stand the test of time, regardless. Original photographic print on single sheet: one of only two known copies of this wildly rare photograph. In Good-Very Good condition with light-to-enunciated edge-wear, light-to-moderate bumping; a since-flattened bump-crease to bottom left-hand corner of photograph; mild-to-moderate curling; similarly mild-to-moderate age-toning (spotting, foxing, & various low-visibility artifacts related to these) present, variously throughout; otherwise, clean. Good-Very Good. [Item #7989]

Price: $500.00